Edible Judaism
Edible Judaism is a joyful, hands-on way to experience Jewish life—where learning is alive, interactive, and delicious.
Through food, nature, and story, Rabbi Bill Kaplan invites participants to explore Jewish holidays, texts, history, culture, rituals, and traditions in ways that can be seen, touched, tasted, and shared. Because sometimes the most meaningful learning happens not just through words—but through experience. And yes… there is always something to nosh along the way.
Rabbi Bill teaches Edible Judaism to people of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of Jewish connection—from lifelong learners to those just beginning their journey, including participants from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. His programs take place in a wide range of settings: conferences, classrooms, gardens, farms, synagogues, JCCs, specialty food spaces, and even the aisles of a local market—transforming everyday environments into opportunities for discovery.
Over the years, he has taught early childhood educators, Jewish Federation leaders, synagogue communities and men’s clubs, parents, JOFEE educators, summer campers, family campers, and many more—each group finding its own doorway into Jewish learning through this unique and engaging approach.
Learning Through the Flora of the Torah
Jews are often called the People of the Book. But we are also, deeply, the People of the Land.
The Torah is rooted in the natural world. More than one hundred plants are mentioned by name in the Bible—fig trees and vines, wheat and barley, pomegranates and olives—each carrying not only agricultural significance, but spiritual meaning as well.
These references reflect the lived reality of our ancestors, an agricultural people deeply connected to the rhythms of the land. But they also became something more. Over the centuries, our sages looked closely at the natural imagery woven throughout the text, asking: Why this plant? Why here? What might it be teaching us?
They explored both the plants that are named and those that are not—wondering about the identity of the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden, or the nature of the burning bush that drew Moses’ attention in the wilderness. Through this inquiry, they discovered layers of metaphor, symbolism, and insight.
The flora of the Torah invites us to see Jewish tradition not only as something to study, but as something to experience—to taste, to smell, to cultivate, and to grow.
In Edible Judaism, that invitation comes to life.
What People Are Saying
SAN FRANCISCO JCC:
“Yum!
Tonight was a delightful experience of nourishing learning and laughter about the holiday of Tu B'Shvat, and the many different stories we tell through the foods we prepare in our families. This was a uniquely special moment shared by teachers, ECE families, staff, and educators.
Thank you, Rabbi Bill for making the trek up from LA to bring a new kind of dinner theater to our JCC community! It was wonderful! Thank you, colleagues for creating such a sophisticated and fun space to be together”
Rabbi Batshir Torchio
Senior Educator
Jewishing Department
Jewish Community Center of San Francisco
TEMPLE ISAIAH, LAFAYETTE, CA:
“Both parents and staff have been chatting all week about our wonderful time spent with you. You were even discussed at our senior staff meeting by a parent who attended last Thursday evening and heads up temple membership. She told the clergy they should hire you asap!! Too bad your roots are deep in Los Angeles, it would be great to collaborate in so many ways. Seriously though, thank you so much for all of your thoughtful conversations and teaching with our Gan Ilan parents and staff. It was so energizing to learn by doing (and eating, of course) and to see everyone so engaged and truly excited about edible Judaism.”
-Liz Kaufman (Director, Gan Ilan Preschool, Temple Isaiah)
“Rabbi Kaplan’s presence at this event was such a treat. A perfect complement to the theme of the evening. His passion for Judaism, Jewish learning, and food was palpable and he was tremendously engaging. What a gift it was to have him speak at this event”
-Gan Ilan Parent
TEMPLE NER AMI, CAMARILLO, CA.:
“Thank you so much for an educational, fun, interactive program and very tasty program. It was a great way to kick off our Hawthorne Fund series.”
-Julia Newman
